• Korean Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.355-365
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• 2022

Precipitation and phase transition of iron minerals in mine drainage greatly affect the behavior of trace elements. However, the precipitation of ferrihydrite, one of the major iron minerals precipitated in drainage, and the related behavior of trace elements have hardly been studied. In this study, the effects of pH change and time on mineral precipitation characteristics in mine drainage from the Munkyeong coal mine were investigated, and the behavioral changes of trace elements related to the precipitation of these minerals were studied. In the case of precipitated mineral phases, goethite was observed at pH 4, and 2-line ferrihydrite mixed with small amount of 6-line ferrihydrite was mainly identified at pH 6 or higher. In addition, it was observed that the precipitation of calcite additionally increased as the pH increased in the samples at pH 6 or higher. The occurrence of goethite was probably due to the phase change of initially precipitated ferrihydrite within a short time under the influence of low pH. Our results showed that the concentration of trace elements was strongly influenced by pH and time. With increasing time, Fe concentration in the drainage showed a abrupt decrease due to the precipitation of iron minerals, and the concentration of As existing as oxyanions in the drainage, also decreased rapidly like Fe regardless of the pH values. This decrease in As concentration was mainly due to co-precipitation with ferrihydrite, and also partly to surface adsorption on goethite at low pH in drainage. Contrary to this observation, the concentration of other trace elements, such as Cd, Co, Zn, and Ni was greatly affected by the pH regardless of the mineral species. The lower the pH value, the higher the concentration of these trace elements were observed in the drainage, and vice versa at higher pH. These results indicate that the behavior of trace elements present as cations is more greatly affected by the mineral surface charge influenced by the pH values than the type of the precipitated mineral.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.194-205
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• 2022

Sandbars formed by sediment transportation and sedimentation are some of the most important habitats for specific wildlife and they provide an aesthetic landscape in streams. The purpose of this study was to understand the successional process of the colonization and development of early vegetation over time on sandbars exposed by the opening of a gate at a downstream weir. We selected the following four study sites in the Geumgang River, South Korea: three weir-upstream sites with different gate-opening times and a control site that was not affected by weir operation. Changes in the structural characteristics and spatial distribution of the riparian vegetation on the sandbars exposed after opening the gate at the weir were surveyed according to the different exposure periods of the sandbars at the study sites. The newly formed sandbars accounted for more than 33% of the area of the existing floodplain in the three weir-upstream sites of the Geumgang River after opening the gate at the weir. Nine main plant communities were distributed on the exposed sandbars. These communities were classified as annual mesophytic, perennial hydrophytic, perennial hygrophytic, subtree, and tree vegetation based on their species traits. As the duration of exposure of the sandbar increased, the area of the bare sandbar and the annual herbaceous and perennial hydrophytic communities decreased, and the areas occupied by perennial hygrophytic, subtree, and tree communities increased. Changes in vegetation on the sandbar were classified into three types of succession according to the condition of the aquatic habitat before the gate-opening and the degree of physical disturbance caused by the water flow after the gate-opening. The types of succession were: 1) succession starting from hydrophytes in the lentic aquatic zone, 2) succession starting from annual herbaceous hygrophytes in the lotic aquatic zone, and 3) willow-dominated succession in the disturbed channel side. Our results suggested that the dynamics of successional changes in vegetation should be considered during weir operation to ecologically manage the habitats and landscape of the fluvial landforms, including sandbars in streams.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.489-495
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• 1996

Seedling emergences of four rice varieties (Dongjinbyeo, Dadajo, Galsaekggarak-sharebyeo, and Italiconaverneco) and three barnyardgrass species(Echjnochloa oryzjcola, E. crus-gali var. crus gali E. crus-gali var. praticola) were evaluated in relation to soil strength. Soil strength was varied by compressing the entire volume of soil with a hydraulic jack so as to be 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 6kg /$\textrm{cm}^2$. Soil strength was measured with a penetrometer (Yamanaka type) and soil covering above the seed was 4cm deep. Experiments were conducted at two air temperature conditions of 17 and $25^{\circ}C$. At a soil strength of up to 2kg/$\textrm{cm}^2$, little or no decrease in seedling emergence occurred in all rice varieties and barnyardgrasses tested. Above that value, seedling emergence decreased progressively as the soil strength increased. The degree of decrease was greatest in Dongjinbyeo and smallest in Dadajo among tested rice varieties, and greatest in Echinochloa oryzicola among barnyardgrasses, being greater in barnyardgrasses than rice. Seedling emergence was delayed almost linearly as the soil strength increased. The delay was greatest in Dongjinbyeo among rice varieties and in Echinochloa oryzicola among barnyardgrasses. Mesocotyl length increased as soil strength increased up to 2 to 3kg / $\textrm{cm}^2$ in Dongjinbyeo and Dadajo in 17$^{\circ}C$ and $25^{\circ}C$, and up to 6kg/$\textrm{cm}^2$ in Galsaekggaraksharebyeo and Italiconaverneco in $25^{\circ}C$. Dongjinbyeo showed the least elongation of mesocotyl among rice varieties in any soil strength. The total length of mesotyl, first internode and incomplete leaf showed little variation with soil strength. The total length was longer than the 4cm covering depth in other varieties except Dongjinbyeo. This might have caused the lower emergence rate in Dongjinbyeo than other varieties in higher soil strength.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.131-138
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• 1996

Soil crusting and hardening as a result of drying after rainfall were examined in relation to seedling emergence by employing five rice varieties (Italiconaverneco, Dadazo, and Galsaekggarakshare, Dongjinbyeo and Sumjinbyeo) and two barnyardgrass species (E. crus-gallj var. oryzjcola and E. crus-galli var. praticola). Sandy loam, loam, and silty loam soils were used. The artificial rainfall of 0, 20 and 40mm were applied after sowing and covering with 4cm soil. Air temperature and solar radiation averaged over 9 days after seeding was 31.3$^{\circ}C$ and 16.9MJ /m$^2$, respectively. Soil strength increased rapidly by drying after artificial rainfall, being greater in soils with greater amount of clay and artificial rainfall. Soil crust was formed on the surface with artificial rainfall in all soils tested. However, soil crust was exfoliated in silty loam and loam soil, and lifted as seedlings emerge. Seedling emergence of rice varieties was decreased by rainfall treatments. Sumjinbyeo and Dongjinbyeo showed much poorer seedling emergence especially in sandy loam soil than the other varieties. Poor seedling emergence of these varieties might have been caused by delayed seedling emergence which had made them expose to greater soil strength. Seedling emergence of barnyardgrasses showed no differences among soil textures and rainfall treatments, because they emerged rapidly before soil crusting and hardening were proceeded enough to hamper seedling emergence. Seedling emergence of Sumjinbyeo and Dongjinbyeo decreased with increasing soil strength averaged over 3 days to 5 days after seeding, being lowered to 80% at soil strength of 1.0kg/cm$^2$ and to 50% at 1.7kg/cm$^2$. Emergence speed of barnyardgrasses was faster than rice varieties, and E. crus-galli var. oryzjcola than E. crus-galli var. praticola. Italiconaverneco and Dadazo showed faster emergence in rice varieties. Galsaekggarakshare showed slower emergence speed than these two varieties with similar seedling emergence percentage. The greater and faster elongations of mesocotyl and incomplete leaf in rice, and of mesocotyl in barnyardgrass were the characteristics responsible for higher seedling emergence rate in the environment examined.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.49-59
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• 2023

The rapid advance of technology has accelerated global warming. As 50.4 percent of South Korea's population is concentrated in the Seoul Metropolitan Area, which has become a considerable emitter of greenhouse gases, the city's average temperature is expected to increase more rapidly than in other areas in the country. A rise in the average temperature would affect everyday life and urban ecology; thus, appropriate measures to cope with the forthcoming disaster are in need. This study analyzed the changes in plant phenological phases from the past to the present based on temperatures (average temperature of Feb, Mar, April) observed in seven different weather stations nearthe Seoul Metropolitan Area (Ganghwa, Seoul, Suwon, Yangpyeong, Icheon, Incheon, and Paju) and the first flowering dates of Plum tree (Prunus mume), Korean forsythia (Forsythia koreana), Korean rosebay (Rhododendron mucronulatum), Cherry tree (Prunus serrulate), Peach tree (Prunus persica), and Pear tree (Pyrus serotina). Then, RCP (Representative Concentration Pathways) 2.6 and 8.5 scenarios were used to predict the future temperature in the Seoul Metropolitan Area and how it will affect plant phenological phases. Furthermore, the study examined the differences in the flowering dates depending on various strategies to mitigate greenhouse gases. The result showed that the rate of plant phenological change had been accelerated since the 1900s.If emission levels remain unchanged, plants will flower from 18 to 29 earlier than they do now in the Seoul Metropolitan Area, which would be faster than in other areas in the country. This is because the FFD (First Flowering Date), is highly related to temperature changes. The Seoul Metropolitan Area, which has been urbanized more rapidly than any other areas, is predicted to become a temperature warming, forcing the FFDs of the area to occur faster than in the rest of the country. Changes in phenology can lead to ecosystem disruption by causing mismatches in species interacting with each otherin an ecosystem. Therefore, it is necessary to establish strategies against temperature warming and FFD change due to urbanization.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.120-131
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• 2022

Microcystins (MCs) are cyano-toxins mainly produced by cyanobacteria in the genera of Microcystis, Anabaena, and Oscillatoria. The concentrations of MCs in the water bodies and fish tissues taken from the four weirs (Ipo, Gangjeong-goryeong, Baekje, and Juksan) in the four main rivers in Korea, and the health risk of human due to consumption of toxin-detected fish was examined. The maximum values of MCs concentration in the water samples were as follows: Juksan (3.261 ㎍ L^-1), Gangjeong-goryeong (1.014 ㎍ L^-1), Baekje (0.759 ㎍ L^-1), and Ipo (0.266 ㎍ L^-1) weirs. The MC-RR concentration was the highest among the MCs, and MC-YR was not detected. MCs of 0.222~9.808 ㎍ g^-1 dry weight were detected in the liver of 3 out of 215 fishes of 16 species, and below the detection limit in muscle. As a result of comparing the feeding characteristics of the collected fishes and toxin concentrations in water and fish tissue, it was concluded that the biomagnification of MCs through the food chain did not occur. It was judged that there was no health risk due to the consumption of the fish detected the toxin, based on the amount of the fish intake of the Korean people and the allowable daily intake of MCs. However, in order to reduce the health risk due to MCs, further studies should be conducted to analyze the concentration of MCs contained in fish tissues collected at various times in the area dominated by harmful cyanobacteria to obtain data on the exposure of MCs due to fish consumption. In addition, it is necessary to establish the management guidelines for MCs in fish tissues.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.548-556
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• 2022

Acylases can have a significant effect on biofilm formation owing to their quorum quenching activity. In this study, we investigated the effects of acylase treatment episodes on multispecies biofilm development. A consortium composed of 9 species belonging to different genera was allowed to form biofilms for 5 days under various treatment episodes (different treatment periods, 1, 2, 3, or 4 days; and two application timings, beginning or later) at 1, 5, 10, 20 and 50 mg·l^-1 acylase concentrations. The acylase treatment for 5 days showed that acylase concentration was negative with biofilm development (linear regression, Y = -0.05·x + 2.37, p < 0.05, R² = 0.88). Acylase was more effective in reducing biofilm formation when it was applied in the beginning (vs. in later development stage) at all acylase concentrations (p < 0.05). ANOVA indicated that treatment period was significant on biofilm formation in both application timings at ≥ 10 mg·l^-1 (p < 0.05). Linearity test results showed that all slope values between period and biofilm were negative in both timings at ≥ 10 mg·l^-1 (p < 0.05, except for the later application at 20 mg·l^-1). When temporal biofilm dynamics were monitored at 20 mg·l^-1, biofilms gradually increased with time at all treatment episodes (p < 0.05), and slope values in linear regression between biofilm and time were lower when acylase was applied in the beginning (p < 0.05). Our findings suggest the importance of the acylase treatment period and application timing on biofilm control.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.86-93
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• 2023

This study investigated the ecological characteristics of Odontobutis interrupta at the Geumdang Stream from January to December 2021. The riverbed structure of the species habitat was rich in sand and mud. The water was deep, ranging from 21 to 124 cm, with an average of 48 cm. The stream velocity was slow at 0.24 (0.08-0.36) m/sec. The ratio of females to males was 1:0.98, and the total length of collected individuals ranged from 23 mm to 162 mm. The age according to the total length-frequency distribution as of May indicated that the group with a total length of 23-59 mm was one year old, the group with 60-99 mm was two years old, the group with 100-139 mm was three years old, and the group with 140-162 mm was four years old. As a secondary gender characteristic, the females genital papilla had a cylindrical shape, a hollow inside of the tip, and a longer diameter than males. The males had a cone shape with a pointed end. Sexually mature males had the nuptial color, with a black abdomen and whole body. Some females with a length ranging from 60 to 69 mm and all females 70 mm longer were sexually mature. Some males with a length ranging from 70 to 79 mm and all males 80 mm longer were sexually mature. The spawning season was from May to July, and the water temperature was between 19.6℃ to 29℃ during that period. The prosperous spawning season was June (26℃). The average number of eggs in the ovaries was 2,473 (883-4,955) per matured female, and the matured eggs were yellowish and spherical with a mean diameter of 1.42 (1.20-0.54) mm. The correlation between total length and weight was BW=0.0000006TL^3.21 with the constant a as 0.0000006 and parameter b as 3.21. The condition factor (K) was 1.67 (1.18-2.43) on average, and the slope was 0.116.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.112 no.3
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• pp.352-362
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• 2023

Harvest time is one of the most important determining factors of seed quality, especially for species that produce seeds over irregular and long-term periods, such as Larix kaempferi. A cone collection plan must be established to increase seed production efficiency and stable mass production. We investigated seed qualities such as seed efficiency, germination rate, and T₅₀ (germination speed), with 7 or 8 cone collection times at a clonal seed orchard of L. kaempferi in Chungju between 2021 and 2022. A multivariate analysis was then performed for the collected data. In early August, decreases in the moisture contents and browning of cones were observed. These were followed by a decrease in germination rate, with a peak at the end of September, but no clear trend was observed. The later the cones were harvested, the better the seed vigor (T₅₀). However, the seed yield and efficiency decreased owing to increases in seed scattering and the number of insect-damaged seeds. As a result, the optimal time of seed harvest for the seed orchard was in early August. To produce uniform seedlings, insect damage must be reduced through timely control and harvest cones in early September. This shows that the degree of browning and moisture content of cones can be used as indicators of the timing of cone collection in L. kaempferi seed orchards.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.184-195
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• 2023

To develop an effective management plan for Ambrosia trifida L., an invasive alien plant in Korea, we assessed the potential of Ophraella communa LeSage as a biological control agent. This involved investigating the host specificity of the herbivore Ophraella communa LeSage, its annual travel distance, and the impact of this insect on the fitness of Ambrosia trifida L. We confirmed the host plant preference of Ophraella communa LeSage. The travel distance of this insect was determined by monitoring its appearance in selected Ambrosia trifida L. communities without these insects at distances of 10, 20, 30, and 100 meters, based on the locations where the presence of Ophraella communa LeSage was observed. The growth, reproductive, and physiological responses of Ambrosia trifida L. were measured according to feeding by Ophraella communa LeSage. As a result, Ophraella communa LeSage fed on only three taxa and moved short distances within a radius of 30 m per year from the host. The feeding behavior of the herbivore had a negative impact on the growth, reproductive, and physiological responses of Ambrosia trifida L. And the plant's growth and reproduction improved with increasing distance from the herbivore. Furthermore, the introduction of herbivores was able to control over 90% of Ambrosia trifida L. when the coverage of the Ambrosia trifida L. group was below 50%. However, the effectiveness of the removal decreased when the coverage exceeded 90%. These results are likely to be utilized by Ophraella communa LeSage as an ecological control agent. It is advantageous to introduce them in spring (May) when the coverage is low to maximize the effectiveness of control.